University of North Georgia (UNG) softball head coach Mike Davenport has always been a student of his craft.
When the multiple-sport athlete didn't make the basketball team his freshman year of high school, he stuck around as a manager and learned from the coaches.
After a year of playing junior college baseball, Davenport transferred to Oklahoma State University and became a manager under legendary baseball coach Gary Ward, who won 953 games and reached 10 College World Series.
Davenport's first head coaching job came as the freshman girls basketball coach at Brookwood High in Gwinnett County. His team went 5-15 that year, but he still landed on women's basketball head coach Buffie Burson's staff at UNG thanks to the Brookwood JV coach knowing Burson.
"I owe a lot of debt to Coach Burson for teaching me the right way to do things and laying the foundation for my coaching philosophy," Davenport said.
When he coached softball for the first time, it was a similar learning process. Davenport had served as an assistant coach under Burson for four years at UNG before taking over as UNG's softball coach in fall 2000. Having never coached softball, Davenport was just as busy taking notes on strategy as he was in recruiting at high school games that fall.
"I learned a lot, mostly that I didn't know anything," Davenport said.
He has always enjoyed learning new ways to approaching coaching.
Before long into his tenure as UNG softball coach, Davenport realized he had a winning formula: a great location in Dahlonega, a state with a wealth of talent, great weather, and the ability to benefit from the HOPE Scholarship.
Davenport's program is a model of consistency, a trait he said comes from the way his mother as a teacher and his father as a salesman cared for their five children in the Midwest. Davenport has built one of the nation’s premier softball programs with an amazing seven 50-win seasons and a winning percentage nearing .800. The highlight of his more than two decades at UNG is the 2015 national title, but his teams have appeared in multiple NCAA Super Regionals and Championship tournaments.
"You have to evolve to your team's strength each year. We're not cookie-cutter by any means," Davenport said. "Some years we run. Some years we hit for power. Pitching always has to be consistent for us or we don't have a chance."
While the trophy case for the UNG softball program at Coleman Field House features plenty of hardware, Davenport hasn't shed his learner mentality — or taken much time to relish his accomplishments.
Davenport identifies with a quote from former Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt: "It's why you coach, not where you coach." For Davenport, that entails the people aspect of the job.
"If you're doing it for the right reasons, the good Lord will put you in the right spot," Davenport said. "For us, we've been blessed to be here and make a difference in a lot of young ladies' lives."
Being a part of events such as the annual Heroes Game for Special Needs Individuals and Make-A-Wish makes Davenport grateful to be at UNG. He said such efforts help players feel more invested in the community.
"Giving back to the community is of utmost importance to us," Davenport said.
